Native to Nepal Native speakers 27,000 (2011 census) | Ethnicity Western Magar Writing system Devanagari | |
Region Rapti Zone, Rolpa and Rukum Districts
Dhaulagiri Zone, Baglung DistrictKarnali regions Language family Sino-Tibetan
Mahakiranti ?
Magaric
Kham | ||
Kham, also Kham Pang (Nepali: Kham)—narrowly defined—is a complex of Sino-Tibetan Magaric languages spoken natively in the highlands of the Rolpa and Rukum districts of Rapti and the westernmost part of Baglung district in Dhawalagiri Zone and Karnali region by western clans of the Kham tribes, called collectively western Khams. Randy LaPolla (2003) proposes that Kham magar and Dhut magar may be part of a larger "Rung" group. However both may ultimately go for separate ethnic identity as they have distinct linguistic and cultural barriers.
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Geographical distribution
Ethnologue lists the following location information for the varieties of Kham.
Eastern Parbate Kham (dialects: Bhujel Kham, Nishel Kham) is spoken in the following villages of Baglung District, Dhawalagiri Zone.
Western Parbate Kham (dialects: Takale, Maikoti, Mahatale, Lukumel, Wale, Thabangi)
Taka-Shera considered to be the center of the Western Parbate Kham.
Gamale Kham (dialects: Tamali, Ghusbanggi)
Gamale Kham is spoken in the western hills of Gam Khola, in Gam, Jhyalgung, Chalbang, Tamali, Dangadhara, Sheram, Ghusbang, Huiching, Guwakholagau, Maulabang, and Kuipadhara villages.
Sheshi Kham (dialects: Tapnanggi, Jangkoti)
Consonants
Kham Pang has 22 consonants.
Vowels
Kham Pang has 25 vowels.